Stamp or label affixing device.



No. 772,660. PATENTED 00T. 18, 1.904.

l (EL. KEMPER. STAMP 0E LABEL AEEIXLNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. l19, 19.03.

. y N0 MODEL. l, 2 SHEETS-SHET l.

full; A\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\vl WIEWSE No. '772,660x

l PATENTLL 00T.` 18,1904. Gi L. KLMPER. STAMP 0L LABEL APL'IXING DLV-ICL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

.TVE1-lia- UNI-TED 1 v STATES GEORGE L. KEMPER, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS, AssIeNoR or oNEeHALE TO CHRISTOPHER A. ROFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.v

STAMP OR LABEL AFFIXING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,660, dated October 18, 1904.

Application led March 19, 1903.

' tionv of thesame, reference being had' to the accompanying drawings, and tothe letters of Vreference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication. Y .l n A This invention relates more particularlyto a device for automatically attaching postage- `stamps on envelops'and labelson bottles,'

packages, or the like,l said stamps or labels being arranged in strips and wound upon a roll or spool, from which they are fed to the machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a small,compact, and comparatively inexpensive device which acts to automatically moisten the surface upon which the stamps or labels are to be affixed, detach the stamps or labels singly from the strips, and press the under side thereof upon the moistened surface.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out and deinedin the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of a device embodying my invention with the front wall-plate removed. Fig. 2 is a' section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. "3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is asimilar view showing the parts in position to sever and affix the stamp. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the moistener-operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the stamp feed and severing means.

In said drawings, A indicates as a whole a easing having side walls d ct, front a2, back a3, and top ai. Said top vis provided near the center thereof with a transverse aperture,

the central portion of .which is closed by aV plate a, rigidly but removably secured to the top.

SerialnNo. 148,547. (No model.)

Within the casing Aris secured a plunger,

having at its lower enda lrectangular casing 'B smaller than and/within the casing A and adapted to carry the stamps and having side walls front 52, and back 53, vcorresponding.

Awith the walls of the casing A. The sides and ZJ are provided, respectively, with arms 64 and b5, which normally extend upwardly through the aperture in said top c# of the casing and on oppositesides of the plate a5 a distance approximately equal to the travel of thel walls of said plunger are provided with outwardly-extending lugs b? which slide in vertical .ways a al", formed on side walls a a', and serve to guide and steady the plunl ger in its movement. l A shaft C is journaled transversely inthe walls of the plunger-casing and projects beyond the wall b. Near the center of said shaft and rotative therewith is a frictionwheel C', provided with a tire c, of rubber or other resilient and friction-producing mate-v rial. A chute D, adapted to convey the stamps to the'plunger, is rigidly engaged in the casing B to the side walls I) b" and extends upwardly through a slot in the casing and on its upper end is provided with rearwardly-extending bracket-arms d, in which is journaled a shaft d', carrying a roll or spool cl2, adapted to have wound thereon a strip of stamps or labels in position to feed down the chute.l On one end of said shaft is a friction-wheel (Z3, rotative therewith and adapted fto beengaged by a leaf-spring d* or the like rigidly engaged on the adjacent bracket-arm and which acts to regulate the feed of the stamps to the plunger. The lower end of said chute is curved forwardly beneath the frictionwheel C into close proximity therewith and vis provided with a longitudinal slot through which the wheel C acts to frietionally engage the stamps and project them from the mouth of the chute. On the projecting end of the shaft C, adjacent to the wall 7), is loosely journaled a pinion c', adapted to mesh with an upright rack-bar c2, rigidly secured on the rear wall of the casing A. Adjacent to the pinion is a ratchet-wheel c3, rigidly secured upon the end of said shaft and engaged by a pawl c", carried on said pinion. NVhen the plunger is forced down, the pinion c' coacting with said rack-bar` rotates upon the shaft, and when it is raised the detent engages the teeth of the ratchet-wheel c3 and causes the shaft and friction-wheel C to rotate therewith, thereby imparting to said friction-wheel an intermittent motion, and the construction is such that with each rotation of the wheel it moves the strip downward the length of one stamp or label. rl`he tension of the wheel C upon th'e stamps is regulated by means of a set-screw c, which is movably engaged in an apertured lug 05, integral with the .rear wall of the plunger-casing, said screw extending forwardly into position to engage the lower end of the chute and regulate the distance between it and said wheel.

A strike-plate E, which coacts with the end of the chute to sever the stamps from the strip, each having serrate cutting edges, is pivotally engaged, with its outer face Hush with the lower margin of the walls b A longitudinally-apertured block e is rigidly engaged on the inner side of the wall b and contains a push-pin e', the upper end of which is engaged by a coiled spring e2, (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6,) and the lower end engages the front side of the strike-plate and acts normally to incline said plate suiiciently to permit the stamp or label to pass down out of the chute and beneath the same.

The moistener consists of a swinging plate F, provided on its under side with a pad of absorbent material and slidingly pivoted on the side walls of the easing A by means of curved cam-levers G, having cam-slots ff therein, in which are slidably engaged pins f'f, rigidly engaged on the liangesfgfz, integral with said plate. Said pins also extend beyond said flanges and engage in guideslots in the side walls a a and direct the movement of the plunger. Pins Z2* extend through cam-slotsja3 in the flanges f2 and engage in the side in position to permit the plate to `swing forwardly and upwardly thereon into position parallel with the front wall a2 of the casing'A. The cam-levers G G are centrally pivoted upon pins g g, rigidly secured on the walls a a, adjacent to and in front of the lower ends of the ways af. Said levers at their rear ends are bent obliquely with their axis and provided with longitudinal slots g2 g2, which slidingly engage pins (/3 g3, rigidly w fixed in the lower margins of the side walls 7) of the plunger-casing. A receptacle ll is provided on the front of the easing A and opening thereinto adapted to contain absorbent material H, against which the absorbent material of the moistening-plate presses when the plunger is lowered, thereby wetting the same.

The operation of my device is as follows: A roll of stamps or labels is secured on the chute and the end entered within the chute, extending to the bottom thereof. Then the plunger is in its normal or raised position, the moistening-plate is in contact with the surface upon which the stamp is to be placed and wets the same suiiiciently to allow the stamp to be aliixed thereto. Then the plunger is forced downward, the rear ends of the cam-lever G are also forced down by means of the pins g3 (7 acting in the slots (/2 r/g, and the front ends of said levers are forced upwardly, carrying the moistening-plate, which is given a quarter-turn through the action of the slots ff and fsf3 acting on their respective pivots. When the plunger approaches its downward limit, the front end of the strikeplate engages the surface upon which the stamp is to be placed, and swinging upon its pivots the teeth on its rear margin eoact with those on the lower end of the chute, severs the lower stamp from the adjoining ones and firmly presses it upon the surface. Then the plunger is raised, the feeding mechanism forces another stamp into position to be severed, and the moistening-plate returns to its normal position.

Obviously many details of construction may be varied without departing from the principles of this invention.

I claim as my inventionl. In a stamp-aflixing machine, in combination a casing, a stamp-receptacle and feeding means therewith, a plunger, and a pivoted vertically-adjustable strike-plate carried by the plunger having a cutting edge adjacent the mouth of the stamp-receptacle.

2. In a stamp-aliixing machine, in combination, a casing, a vertically-reciproeating plu nger and cutter therein, a stamp-receptacle carried by the plunger having a mouth across which the cutter works to sever a stamp projected therefrom, a feed -roller to project stamps from the receptacle beneath the plunger, and means to operate the roller.

3. In a stamp-aflixing machine, in combination a vertically reciprocating plunger in a casing, a stampreceptacle carried by the plunger, a pivoted strike-plate at the bottom of the plunger having a cutting edge crossing the mouth of the receptacle when the plunger is depressed, and means to project stamps from the receptacle beneath the strike-plate.

Lt. In a stamp-aflixing machine, in combination, a casing, a vertically-reciprocating plunger therein, a stamp-receptacle carried by the IOO pll'inger, means to feed the stamps therefrom,

a swinging moistener and means to sw-ing the same, anda pivoted strike-plate at the lower .end of theplunger havinga cutter adjacent the mouthv of the receptacle actuated by' 'contact of the strike-plate with the envelop to pass across the said mouth and sever a stamp projected therefrom.

5. In a stamp-aliixing machine, in combination, a casing, a vertically-reciprocating plunger therein, a stamp-receptacle reciprocating therewith, a shaft adjacent the mouthof the receptacle, a feed-roller thereon, rack-,andpinionA mechanism to actuate the shaft, and a pivoted strike-plate carried by the plunger to sever a stamp. v

6. The combination with a casing, of stampcarrying means therein, reciprocating feed mechanism for the stamps, oscillating mois- `edge on the stamp-carr intermittent friction-vs llieel adapted to engage and project thel stamps through the chute, means dependent on the operation of the plunger and acting vto operatev said wheel, means for regulating the distance between said chute and said wheel and automatic means for detaching the stamps from the strip.

9. -In a stamp-aiixing machine the combination with a casing, of a plunger in said casing, means acting to'guide the plunger therein, an intermittently-revoluble friction-wheel journaled within said plunger and operated by the movement thereof, a longitudinallyslotted stamp-chute rigidly engaged within the plunger and having its lower end curved forwardly beneath the friction-wheel, means for regulating the distance between the chute and the wheel, means for severing the stamp from the strip, andmoistening means also operated by the plunger.

l0. Ina device of the class described the combination with an apertured casing, of a plurality oflparallel ways within said casing', A

a reciprocating hollow plunger, outwardlyextending lugs thereon slidingly engaged in said ways, a longitudinally-slotted chute carried on said plunger and extending through the top of the casing, a plurality of bracketarms thereon, a shaft journal'ed in said arms, a spool revoluble therewith, a friction-brake on the outer end of said shaft, a transverse shaft journaled in said plungen'means adapted 1 to intermittently rotate said shaft, a frictionwheel rigidly engaged on said shaft, resilient means on the periphery of said wheel adapted to engage the stamps and eject them from the.

lower end of said'chute, a set-screw movably engaged in the plunger-casing adapted to engage and adjust the chute and a strike-plate adapted to detach stamps from the strip and aiiiX them upon an envelop or the like.

11. In a device of the class described the combination with an outer casing having parallel ways therein, of a plunger-casing reciprocating in said ways, upwardly-extending arms thereon, a stern, a hollow handle on said arms adapted to-reciprocate on said stem, a

spring adapted to engage said stem and nor- 'mall'y hold the plunger in-itsraised position, a serrated stamp-chute carried on the plunger, a shaft journaled transversely in the plunger-casing and extending through one side thereof, a resilient friction-wheel adapted to engage the stamps and eject them from the lower end of said chute, a pinion journaled on said shaft, a spring-operated pawl carried thereon, a rack-bar adapted to engage said pinion, a ratchet-wheel rigidly rotative with the shaft adapted to be yengaged by the de- "tent during the upward movement of the plunger, and aserrated strike-plate pivotally engaged on the plunger-casing adapted to coact with the'lower end of the chute when the plunger is lowered.

l2. In combination, an outer casing, parallel ways therein, a plunger-casing reclprocating in said ways, a chute leading therein, means for projecting stamps or the like through s aid chute, means for adjusting the chute in respect to the stamp-projecting means, a strike-plate pivoted in the lower part of the plunger-casing having its lower edge normally extended below said casing in position to engage the surface upon which a stamp is to be placed and detach the stamp from 4the stamp-strip and press it upon said surface, a longitudinally-apertured block rigidly engaged in said casing, aspring-operated push-pin therein adapted to engage said plate and return it to its normal position, a swinging moistening-platey and a receptacle integral with the outer casing adapted to supply moisture to the moistening-plate.

13. In a stamp-aifixing machine, an outer casing, a reciprocating plunger therein, av

stamp-chute rigidly engaged in said plunger,

means for projecting the stamps therethrough,

means for adjusting the chute in respect to IOO IIO

the stamp-projection means, means for de.- taching the stamps and placing them upon envelops or the like, a moistening-plate, lateral flanges thereon pivoted in the outer casing, a slotted cam -lever pivoted centrally thereof on the outer casing'having its forward end sliclingly pivotecl on said flanges and its l scribed my naine in the presence of two suhrear end Slidingly pivoted on the plunger, a scrihing Witnesses. receptacle on lthe front of the casing opening thereinto, and absorbent material therein against which the moistening-plate engages VitneSSeS: When the plunger is lowered.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto sub# GEORG-E L. KEMPEN.

C. XV. HILLS, C. A. Row. 

